With the summer sun shining brightly, it’s the perfect time for kids to relax, explore, and have fun. As teachers and parents, we know that learning doesn’t stop during the break. By engaging in exciting activities that nurture executive function development, parents can help their kids grow while creating wonderful summer memories. Here are some summer activities that can help kids strengthen their executive function while enjoying their vacation to the fullest.
- Summer Adventure Journal – Encourage kids to keep a summer adventure journal. This activity not only promotes writing and storytelling but also fosters planning and organization skills. Whether they document their beach trips, outdoor explorations, or creative endeavors, journaling helps kids reflect on their experiences and build their metacognitive abilities.
- Gardening and Responsibility – Starting a summer garden is a fantastic way to teach kids about responsibility and time management. From planning the garden layout to watering and caring for plants, gardening helps develop executive function skills such as task initiation, follow-through, and organization. Plus, it’s a rewarding experience to see the fruits of their labor grow!
- DIY Summer Projects – Encourage kids to engage in do-it-yourself (DIY) projects during the summer. Whether it’s building a birdhouse, crafting a dream catcher, or designing their own board game, DIY projects stimulate creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills. These activities also encourage flexible thinking and the ability to adapt to unexpected challenges.
- Outdoor Scavenger Hunts – Organize outdoor scavenger hunts that require kids to follow clues, solve puzzles, and work together as a team. Scavenger hunts enhance working memory, cognitive flexibility, and cooperation. They also provide an opportunity for children to practice their planning skills and strategize to achieve a common goal.
By incorporating executive function development into summer fun, we can set our kids on a path to becoming organized, creative, and resourceful individuals. What activities are your kids enjoying this summer?
Check out our full list of SMARTS @ Home and parent resources, or download a free SMARTS @ Home lesson now!
- Caitlin Vanderberg, M.Ed., SMARTS Associate
SMARTS Executive Function Curriculum: smarts-ef.org
Research Institute for Learning and Development: researchild.org